Would ya just look at some of the oddities being passed off as cars these days? We’ve got automakers giving us all sorts of amalgamations on wheels that even they have a hard time trying to describe. There’s that Kia Soul, for instance, the Acura ZDX, the Honda CR-Z and Toyota Venza.

Now there’s this: the Nissan Juke.

"What is it?" was the question posed over and over by onlookers during my week of test-driving it. “Well,” I’d start off confidently, followed by a long pause. “You see, it’s kind of like an SUV, but much smaller and car-like, like a crossover … but like a crossover that’s been mixed with a sports coupe.”

I never really did come up with a good answer for this thing, whose cutesy name only complicates matters. Is this really inspired by a soccer move? Nissan calls the Juke a “bold urban sport cross.” Thanks; that clarifies it.

The Juke is in fact trying to be multiple things, and while it doesn’t pull off any one thing particularly well, I must admit: The Juke is a crazy fun vehicle to drive.

First off, it’s small and agile. With an overall length of just over 162 inches and a width of 69.5 inches, the thing can fit anywhere. Its suspension, meanwhile, feels more like that of a sports car. At freeway speeds the Juke was jittery and the wind noise was loud. But so is the equally odd Nissan Cube, and that car’s ride induced a big old yawn when I drove it. What makes the Juke different?

The engine. The Juke employs a small but powerful 1.6-liter direct-injection, turbocharged four-cylinder that creates 188 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. Those numbers are more than ample to move the Juke’s light weight (in front-wheel-drive, manual-transmission form, my tester tipped the scales at 2,941 pounds).

For a vehicle such as this offering a turbo engine, the Juke is a relative bargain. In base form, the car starts under $20,000, including destination. Even one loaded up with a CVT automatic transmission, torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive, navigation system and leather seats, you’re looking at the $25,000 range. That’s comparable to the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, a new, great little subcompact SUV in its own right, but one whose sole engine option puts out 40 less ponies.

The extra power packed into the Juke really makes it a fun driver around town. It reminds me of a Volkswagen GTI, but one that sits higher off the ground and whose exterior lines give it the impression of a frog that’s about to leap. That’s what it looks like in my eyes, anyway.

Drivers can further tune the throttle dynamics with a nifty button in the center console that changes from the climate control key to something called “D-Mode.” When pressed, the surrounding buttons illuminate relative to each function. So the same buttons that control ventilation functions while in climate mode, for instance, will toggle between “sport” and “eco” selections when “D-Mode” is selected.

It’s a neat visual trick, and it’s useful to boot. In “sport” mode, for example, the engine did feel peppier and the car accelerated more quickly. Under full throttle, you can expect 60 mph to arrive in the seven- or eight-second range.

In terms of fuel consumption, the Juke was laudable. In mixed driving over hundreds of miles, I averaged about 26.5 mpg.

So the Juke feels like a little sports coupe on stilts. The problem with that, in terms of practicality, is that it feels like a sports coupe on stilts.

The cargo space behind the rear seats is laughably small. I nearly had to fold one of the back seats just to get a few bags of groceries in. And woe to any larger person attempting to actually sit in the back seat. First they’ll have to discover the hidden door handles built into the exterior, then they’ll have to pray no one of similar size is sitting up front, lest their legs be crushed by the back side of the front seat.

Up front, the driver seat was much more comfortable and provided a good view out. The interior of the car has a simple layout and is more subdued visually than the outside, lest for the bright red paneling in my test vehicle. This one came with the optional heated front seats, but flicking the activation switch required an awkward reach to the very rear of the center console.

Yet for its downsides, I still came away with a smile every time I exited the Juke. If I were a young, hip, single dude who rarely took long trips, the Juke would be on my shopping list.

As for the future of funky, genre-blending vehicles such as this, keep in mind that a few decades ago we might have had similarly puzzled expressions at the AMC Eagle wagon, a lifted, all-wheel-drive car that looked more like a lunar lander. Today we call that a Subaru Outback, and it sells in droves. Fast-forward to 1999 and Honda released a little car called the Insight, the first mass-produced hybrid to reach American roads. Today you can’t miss seeing a Toyota Prius blissfully cruising along a freeway. Or go back to the very dawn of the automotive age itself, when the Electric Carriage and Wagon Co. was building cars powered by batteries. Today we can’t stop hearing about the Nissan Leaf.

Like the Juke, these older cars may have seemed strange for their time, but they paved the way for successful future models, some of which we are now just seeing on our roads. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Juke finds a similar destiny while also seeing a measure of success today that those older cars never had. And that, by definition, makes the Juke a deft move.

YOUR TURN: That's my take on the Nissan Juke. What do YOU think of this car? Share your own 2 cents below, along with your guesses of where in Orange County I shot that photo at top.

The 2011 Nissan Juke struts its stuff somewhere in Orange County. If you know where, guess at ocregister.com/carblog. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Nissan calls the Juke a "bold urban sport cross." I'm calling it a compact crossover. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Nissan Juke is a new model for 2011, and continues the trend of vehicles that blend traits. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Elongated and narrow headlights are among the defining design characteristics of the Nissan Juke, MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This Juke sported higher-end leather seats. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The interior of the Juke has cool tech features yet is still simple and easy to navigate. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Juke features a long and lean center console. But the buttons to activate the optional heated seats are an awkward reach. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This version of the Nissan Juke had a six-speed manual transmission, available only on front-wheel-drive models. Other versions get a CVT automatic. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Here's that little 1.6-liter turbo engine. It's good for 188 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The engine uses direct injection for better power and efficiency. This Juke is rated at 24 mpg city/31 highway. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Here's another shot of the Juke at this week's mystery spot. Look familiar? MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Notice the hidden handles on the rear door; they are built into the siding and are flush. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Juke is lacking in the cargo area compartment. If you want to carry anything in bulk, you'll probably need to put the rear seat down. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This model sported a Rockford-Fosgate sub in the rear cargo area. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
You might have to point out the door handles to first-time passengers. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Not a whole lot of room back here for passengers. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The rear seats fold in a 60/40 split to accommodate bigger items. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
I don't think a surfboard would fit in here. Maybe a wakeboard, though. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Hit a button and the Juke's center readout magically switches from "D-mode" to climate mode, which displays fan speed, temperature, etc. Notice that the buttons have also changed. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This screen in the D-mode readout shows the amount of torque being output. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Steering-wheel-mounted buttons control audio, cruise-control and Bluetooth functions. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
In mixed driving, I averaged 26.5 mpg, quite a bit better than other crossovers I've tested. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A moonroof is an available option on the Nissan Juke. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Here's another cool screen in the D-mode dash: the G-forces being exhibited by the car. Problem is, you really should be watching the road, not this readout. At least your passengers can get a kick out of it. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A readout of the turbo boost can also be displayed. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Push-button start-stop is a little icing on the cake. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Under the cargo floor was this hidden space, which provides a little extra space and security. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
There's nothing else on the road (yet) that looks quite like a Juke. MATT DEGEN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.